Abstract
THE outstanding stability of fluorinated hydrocarbons has been fully exploited in the field of high polymers. The preparation and polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene was described some two years ago (Ind. Eng. Chem., 870; 1946). The polymer (P.T.F.E.) is an excellent dielectric (power factor = 0·0002 over a wide frequency-range) and it is resistant to all common solvents up to 300° C. Molten alkali metals alone have any appreciable attack. In its strength, however, lies its greatest weakness. Form stability is retained up to 250° C., and even at higher temperatures there is no true softening ; thus moulding and fabrication present major obstacles. Progress in overcoming this difficulty has, however, been made by Messrs. British Mechanical Productions, Ltd., 21 Bruton Street, London, W.I, who recently exhibited in London examples of moulded valve -holders and other components in polytetrafluoroethylene.
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Polytetrafluoroethylene. Nature 162, 768–769 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/162768d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/162768d0